The Jules Bianchi Karting Marathon returns to Le Castellet for its 10th edition
From September 12 to 14, 2025, the Circuit Paul Ricard will host a unique event: a karting race lasting 42 hours, 19 minutes, and 50 seconds. The Jules Bianchi Karting Marathon, conceived by Bianchi Lagorce Events, will bring together professionals, amateurs, celebrities, and enthusiasts for an extraordinary challenge and a tribute to the memory of the Nice-born driver.
In the history of the Olympic Games, the marathon was the premier event. Transposed to the world of karting, the concept takes on a new form: not a distance to be covered, but a duration to be maintained. The Jules Bianchi Karting Marathon challenges teams to stay on track for more than 42 hours. The format requires strategy, endurance, and cohesion.
Created by Philippe Bianchi in the early 2000s, the event has already brought together several generations of promising drivers. Jules and Tom Bianchi have raced alongside Charles and Arthur Leclerc and Norman Nato. The competition has made a lasting impression with its atmosphere combining sporting intensity and conviviality.
In 2025, the 10th edition will take place at the Circuit Paul Ricard, a symbolic venue for French motorsport. Thirty-five 270cc karts will line up at the start. The machines can reach speeds of up to 90 km/h and change hands at each relay, ensuring a smooth rotation of drivers. The teams, made up of five to twenty people, will have to manage fatigue, mandatory relays, and imposed pit stops.
Two categories will be used to balance the levels. The first imposes a minimum weight of 270 kg (kart and driver included), the second 245 kg. Teams will be classified as “Pro” or “Corporate” depending on the number of licensed drivers. This system allows amateurs and professionals to compete in the same race while ensuring a certain degree of fairness.
The event will follow a precise schedule. After administrative checks, free practice and qualifying on Friday, the race will start at 7:41 p.m. The karts will set off for two days of non-stop racing, before the finish scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m.
A tribute and a commitment to solidarity
Beyond the sporting challenge, the event honors the memory of Jules Bianchi. The Nice-born driver, who died in 2015 following a Formula 1 accident at the Japanese Grand Prix, left a lasting impression on those around him with his passion and ability to bring people together. His name remains associated with the spirit of excellence and solidarity.
Part of the funds raised will be donated to the Jules Bianchi Association. Created by his family, it supports research into severe brain injuries, finances medical equipment for the Archet Hospital in Nice, and supports families facing this type of pathology. A check for €50,000 will be presented to the association during the race. A shop on site will also sell merchandise bearing the driver’s image, with the profits going to his causes. This race will be organized in the same spirit of camaraderie, respect, positivity, and competition that characterized Jules Bianchi.
The event is not limited to the track. In the paddock, competitors will have access to a reception area, a 24-hour catering area, and fully equipped tents for the teams. The aim is to recreate a real sports village where drivers, mechanics, and support staff can share a daily routine punctuated by the competition.
On the media side, the race will be broadcast live on Bianchi Lagorce Events’ YouTube channel. Viewers will be able to follow the relays, interviews, and behind-the-scenes action thanks to enhanced coverage. Lionel Chamoulaud, a former France Télévisions journalist, will commentate on the event alongside Marie Caizz, an actress and presenter who was also present at the previous edition.
Professional drivers and celebrities are expected to attend, continuing the tradition of previous editions which saw Charles Leclerc, Norman Nato, Dorian Boccolacci and entertainment and sports personalities such as Benjamin Biolay, Tomer Sisley and Richard Virenque take part.
The event aims to attract a wide audience: companies, families, friends and enthusiasts. The karts can be customized with a company’s colors, reinforcing the collective and unifying dimension of the race.
At the end of the 42 hours, a podium will reward the two best teams in each category. But beyond the rankings, it is the shared experience and the cause being championed that give this marathon its special resonance.
Source article : https://www.nicepremium.fr/associations/le-marathon-karting-jules-bianchi-revient-au-castellet-pour-sa-10e-edition/
